Re: PRR Pullman "interline" through service

« Reply #60 on: Mar 10th, 2016, 2:07pm »

Would suggest that the 1960 Jubilee to Colorado Springs was the "Last Hurrah" rather than the 1957 gathering at Valley Forge, but while there were plenty of excursions of one sort or another (Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs- Garden of the Gods - and USAF Academy to name a few), none were by rail. That was limited to getting to and from Colorado Springs. It is off for a guy who was very fond of and interested in trains that I don't have any recollection of livery as to assigned roads. Seems like most cars I recall were classic Pullman Green, and I think most were open-section cars (with one room - 14/1s I THINK). Probably some were the two-tone grey scheme. I suppose the trains all arrived from the south via the Joint Line if Burlington or Santa Fe or from Denver if Rock Island, Northern-origin Burlington, UP or D&RGW.

Clyde:

Such "specials" were once quite commonplace, back in the day.

Racetrack specials, baseball specials, "hobby trains" (this was what the NH called their trains that carried photography buffs, cyclists, not to mention those atheletic individuals into skiing and skating) all were once a part of the intricate fabric that once made up our nation's great railroad network........

Re: PRR Pullman "interline" through service

« Reply #61 on: Mar 10th, 2016, 10:50pm »

Clyde:

Such "specials" were once quite commonplace, back in the day.

Racetrack specials, baseball specials, "hobby trains" (this was what the NH called their trains that carried photography buffs, cyclists, not to mention those atheletic individuals into skiing and skating) all were once a part of the intricate fabric that once made up our nation's great railroad network........

"L.F.L."

Yep, that they were. Into the '50s had Football Specials (I have pictures of the SMU fans specials from Dallas to LA for the Rose Bowl when SMU played in 1936 - perfect 12-0 season until Stanford whupped 'em 7-0), and a stack of Shriner's Specials for a big convention in (I think) Kansas City. At least one engine is shown with the stack converted into a Shriner's fez. And of course the specials for the West Point-USNA games.

Re: PRR Pullman "interline" through service

« Reply #62 on: Mar 11th, 2016, 12:07am »

Yep, that they were. Into the '50s had Football Specials (I have pictures of the SMU fans specials from Dallas to LA for the Rose Bowl when SMU played in 1936 - perfect 12-0 season until Stanford whupped 'em 7-0), and a stack of Shriner's Specials for a big convention in (I think) Kansas City. At least one engine is shown with the stack converted into a Shriner's fez. And of course the specials for the West Point-USNA games.

Clyde:

The PRR.....Pullmans....Army-Navy games.......

On November 27, 1954, the PRR operated 29 football specials, with consists totaling more than 400 coaches, Pullmans, and diners, carrying more than 20,000 football fans.

A number of POTUS moves were also part of Army-Navy day history; JFK was the last President to attend the game via train (1961 and 1962) aboard PRR business car #120, which would later be rededicated to bear his name in memorium.

In the great days of these specials, Greenwich Yard was filled with a profusion of Pullmans, private cars, and office cars.

Heavyweight open-section Pullmans and heavyweight parlor cars from the Pullman pool continued to appear into the 60's.

Ahhh, to be a rail enthusiast in the Philly area, back in the day.........(!!)

(courtesy: UtahRails.net)

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Re: PRR Pullman "interline" through service

« Reply #73 on: Mar 12th, 2016, 11:00pm »

A July, 1946 photo found in "MANHATTAN GATEWAY" (William D. Middleton) shows preparations (at Pennsylvania Station, NY) for the departure of the inaugural run of the 'SUNSHINE SPECIAL", operating via the PRR, Missouri Pacific, Texas & Pacific, and the National Railways of Mexico.

This was the first run of through Pullmans from New York to Mexico City......

I do enjoy thinking of through NYC sleepers (among other roads) also traveling south of the border.......

"L.F.L."

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Re: PRR Pullman "interline" through service

« Reply #75 on: Mar 14th, 2016, 2:46pm »

Quote:

It would be interesting, to say the least, if AMTRAK ever decided to restore through sleeper service between the US and Mexico.

That such a service ever existed further exemplifies the near-endless diversity in American rail passenger operations, many decades ago.

First you would need the Mexican government to establish long abandoned passenger service once again and then it will depend on if some sort of cross platform connection proves to be worthwhile (without first having a large number of passengers using the cross platform connections there would be no point to establishing something further).

While the Mexican President has stated he wants to reestablish passenger service throughout the country so far little effort has been shown towards that end. Don't know if its something he really wants to work towards or if it is a... "By and by, pie in the sky." sort of attitude. Only time will tell...

Quote:

I do enjoy thinking of through NYC sleepers (among other roads) also traveling south of the border.......

Don't forget that many NYC sleepers crossed the boarder only once, when they were sold to Mexican railroads. While coaches of certain types can also be traced to Mexico dining cars and sleepers in a big way went south where they served well beyond what would have been considered reasonable service here in the States and in Canada. Sadly a huge majority of these cars were scrapped when the government stopped all long distance passenger train service with very few ever actually being preserved.

Re: PRR Pullman "interline" through service

« Reply #76 on: Mar 14th, 2016, 4:14pm »

Jerry:

As always, your input is greatly appreciated.....I thank you for taking the time!

It was not until I read your last post (and, of course, thinking of border-crossing passenger service) that I was recalling the D&H trains to Canada; in 1974, a cooperative between AMTRAK, the State of New York, and the D&H reinstated daylight passenger service between New York and Montreal.

One train, the "MONTREAL LIMITED" was terminated by AMTRAK in 1971 and never re-instated.

Also, in "THE D&H IN COLOR: VOLUME 2" (Plant/Plant), there is a photo of the southbound "LAURENTIAN" (1969) with at least one E-L through car in the consist (appears to be a 1000 series car, ex-ERIE); another photo of this train, taken the previous year, shows two NYC cars in the consist (one heavyweight, one streamlined)

Leased EL E-8's are also depicted hauling D&H varnish in this book.

With the D&H, again we have a road where "international" service was once offered.........